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Negotiating Access to Health and Wellbeing Support in Schools for Young People with Chronic Health Conditions in English Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Multi-Informant Study

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Title: Negotiating Access to Health and Wellbeing Support in Schools for Young People with Chronic Health Conditions in English Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Multi-Informant Study
Language: English
Authors: Lauren Herlitz (ORCID 0000-0003-2497-9041), Matthew Jay (ORCID 0000-0003-2481-7755), Claire Powell (ORCID 0000-0002-6581-0165), Ruth Gilbert (ORCID 0000-0001-9347-2709), Ruth Blackburn (ORCID 0000-0002-3491-7381)
Source: Continuity in Education. 2025 6(1):22-37.
Availability: Ubiquity Press. Ubiquity Press Ltd, Unit 3N, 6 Osborn Street, London, E1 6TD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)2073230343; e-mail: editorial@ubiquitypress.com; Web site: https://www.ubiquitypress.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: School Health Services, Chronic Illness, Secondary School Students, School Personnel, Well Being, Caregiver Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Student Needs, Barriers, Foreign Countries, Attitudes, Individual Characteristics
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
ISSN: 2631-9179
Abstract: Background: Schools have a statutory duty to support pupils with medical conditions in England, but limited evidence exists on how support is managed in practice. This study explores young people's, caregivers', and school staff's experiences of access to health and wellbeing support in state secondary schools for pupils with chronic health conditions. Method: We used an online qualitative survey design: one for young people or caregivers, and one for staff. Data was analysed using framework analysis, applying candidacy theory. Results: Twelve young people, 33 caregivers, and 18 secondary school staff responded to the survey. Participants described highly varied offers of health and wellbeing support, with caregivers and young people often unaware of what support schools could feasibly provide. Participants highlighted communication gaps and a lack of collaborative work between primary or secondary healthcare and schools. Many caregivers and young people reported that staff had insufficient understanding of their condition(s), had not trusted or believed them when they had explained their health needs, or had left them out of conversations about support. School staff also noted communication difficulties with caregivers. Many caregivers and staff described aspects of the secondary school setting that prohibited inclusivity including insufficient staff time, high pupil numbers, a focus on national attainment measures, and attendance targets. Conclusion: The support options that young people with chronic conditions can feasibly be offered should be clarified in government guidance. Further research is needed on the prevalence/utility of individual healthcare plans and on procedures to ensure that pupils with medical conditions are justly supported.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1463510
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Negotiating Access to Health and Wellbeing Support in Schools for Young People with Chronic Health Conditions in English Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Multi-Informant Study
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lauren+Herlitz%22">Lauren Herlitz</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2497-9041">0000-0003-2497-9041</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+Jay%22">Matthew Jay</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2481-7755">0000-0003-2481-7755</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Claire+Powell%22">Claire Powell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-0165">0000-0002-6581-0165</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruth+Gilbert%22">Ruth Gilbert</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9347-2709">0000-0001-9347-2709</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruth+Blackburn%22">Ruth Blackburn</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3491-7381">0000-0002-3491-7381</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Continuity+in+Education%22"><i>Continuity in Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 6(1):22-37.
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  Data: Ubiquity Press. Ubiquity Press Ltd, Unit 3N, 6 Osborn Street, London, E1 6TD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)2073230343; e-mail: editorial@ubiquitypress.com; Web site: https://www.ubiquitypress.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Health+Services%22">School Health Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chronic+Illness%22">Chronic Illness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Personnel%22">School Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregiver+Attitudes%22">Caregiver Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink>
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  Data: 2631-9179
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Schools have a statutory duty to support pupils with medical conditions in England, but limited evidence exists on how support is managed in practice. This study explores young people's, caregivers', and school staff's experiences of access to health and wellbeing support in state secondary schools for pupils with chronic health conditions. Method: We used an online qualitative survey design: one for young people or caregivers, and one for staff. Data was analysed using framework analysis, applying candidacy theory. Results: Twelve young people, 33 caregivers, and 18 secondary school staff responded to the survey. Participants described highly varied offers of health and wellbeing support, with caregivers and young people often unaware of what support schools could feasibly provide. Participants highlighted communication gaps and a lack of collaborative work between primary or secondary healthcare and schools. Many caregivers and young people reported that staff had insufficient understanding of their condition(s), had not trusted or believed them when they had explained their health needs, or had left them out of conversations about support. School staff also noted communication difficulties with caregivers. Many caregivers and staff described aspects of the secondary school setting that prohibited inclusivity including insufficient staff time, high pupil numbers, a focus on national attainment measures, and attendance targets. Conclusion: The support options that young people with chronic conditions can feasibly be offered should be clarified in government guidance. Further research is needed on the prevalence/utility of individual healthcare plans and on procedures to ensure that pupils with medical conditions are justly supported.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 22
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Health Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chronic Illness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well Being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Caregiver Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Individual Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England)
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      – TitleFull: Negotiating Access to Health and Wellbeing Support in Schools for Young People with Chronic Health Conditions in English Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Multi-Informant Study
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